stockiness

Definition

Noun: The quality or state of being thick, sturdy, and compact in build; a solid and often short physical form.

Usage Examples

• (His sturdy, compact build was advantageous in a contact sport.)
• (The breed's thick, solid physique is a defining characteristic.)
• (The tree's strong, squat shape.)

Advanced Usage

• "a certain stockiness": used to describe a noticeable but not extreme degree of this quality.

  • The wrestler had a certain stockiness that intimidated his opponents. (A moderate but clear stoutness of build.)

• "stockiness of limb": a more formal or literary way to refer to the thickness of arms or legs.

  • The farmer's stockiness of limb came from years of manual labour. (His sturdy arms and legs were a result of physical work.)

Variants and Related Words

• Stocky (adjective): having a thick, solid, and often short body.

  • The stocky guard stood firmly at the door. (The guard's build was short and strong.)

• Stockily (adverb): in a manner that shows a thick, solid build.

  • He moved stockily across the room, his steps heavy and deliberate. (He moved with a sturdy, compact gait.)

Synonyms

• Sturdiness: the quality of being strong and solidly built.
• Thicksetness: a state of being heavily and solidly built, often with a short stature.
• Compactness: the quality of being closely and firmly packed together; a dense build.

Related Idioms

• Built like a brick outhouse: an informal idiom meaning very strong and solidly built, often implying stockiness.

  • The bouncer was built like a brick outhouse, with broad shoulders and a thick neck. (He had a very sturdy, stocky physique.)

• Short and stout: a simple descriptive phrase for a person of small height and wide build.

  • The dwarf in the story was short and stout, with a cheerful face. (He was stocky in appearance.)